“We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor.”
President Donald Trump has said that he will be giving an award to a 16-year-old lifeguard that went viral for saving the life of a 10-year-old in Santa Cruz, California.
In a rare post to X, Trump said in response to the viral footage, "We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/2082159711852298494?s=20
The lifeguard was identified as a 16-year-old high school student, whose first name is Ryder, according to a woman who said that she was his mom on social media. The boy that Ryder rescued is believed to be around 10 years of age.
The footage in Santa Cruz showed Ryder grasping the young boy by the arms as monstrous waves crashed around them. A second lifeguard tried to enter the water as well as others who appeared to be overwhelmed by the waves that were crashing down.
Scott Vander Dussen, who managed to film the harrowing event, told NBC Bay Area, "The waves, I wouldn't say they were tranquil, but they were what you'd expect, a normal cadence and intensity."
"And then that just changed in a heartbeat. It caught a lot of people off-guard. Unfortunately, this young man was overwhelmed and swept out in just a moment's time. I'm glad it ended the way it did. I'm certain if the lifeguards weren't there, he wouldn't have gone home that night."
Trump's statement on the situation came in response to a comment from his son, Eric Trump, who wrote on X, "Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!"
Santa Clara lifeguards are required to complete at least 56 hours of lifeguard training, 24 hours of medical certification, as well as 80 hours of marine safety lifeguard training. One X user commented on how the lifeguard appeaered to be very well-trained for the situation.
"Two things that stand out as to how well trained that lifeguard is. He never let go of that person and he always had the person faced away from himself. That's to keep the person from bear hugging you and drowning you. The other is that the lifeguard never extended his hand out to the others when they reached for him because they too can panic and latch onto the lifeguard," the X user said.
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